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The State League pays monthly for a Pro Zoom account, which lets us host meetings of up to 100 participants with no limit on meeting time. State Zoom account is available on a first come, first served basis. Default meeting time is one hour - please contact us at lwvor@lwvor.org if you need more time.

Every December, we replace our Monthly Highlights with a roundup of the biggest stories and resources of the year, followed by steps you can take to defend democracy in the months to come! Keep reading for a recap of one of the most tumultuous years in our democracy’s history. Breaking: Your Most-Read News Stories March 2025 — President Trump’s Anti-Voter Election Order : President Trump’s “plainly unlawful” Executive Order would require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote, prohibit the counting of absentee and mail ballots received after Election Day, and give the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) the authority to review states’ voter rolls. Through litigation, the League permanently blocked the provision that purported to require documentary proof of citizenship to register using the federal registration form. April 2025 — A Constitutional Crisis : LWV declared that the US was in a constitutional crisis and launched the campaign Unite and Rise 8.5 to mobilize voters in defense of democracy. September 2025 — USCIS Suppresses New Citizen Voters: The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released revised policy guidance barring nonpartisan organizations (like LWV) from registering voters at naturalization ceremonies. In November 2025, the League filed a federal lawsuit against USCIS, seeking to block the policy change. September 2025 — LWV and Partners Sue Trump to Protect Private Voter Data : LWV, LWVVA, LWVLA, and partners filed a lawsuit challenging the administration’s creation of an expanded data system  consolidating personal information without consent or advance notice. April 2025 — The SAVE Act Passes the House : The House passage of the anti-voter SAVE Act  was a “direct attack on the fundamental right to vote" and a “dangerous step backward for our democracy.” Required Viewing: Your Favorite Blogs, Videos, and More BLOGS : The topics you were most interested in learning about this year included why we oppose voter ID laws , whether the SAVE Act  is a trick (it is), how the Electoral College  works, and the role of DEI in our democracy . VIDEOS : We launched our Unite and Rise 8.5 web series , interviewing leaders in the democracy space about young voters, resistance to unjust government, the longstanding relationship between faith and advocacy communities, and more! VOTE411 : 2025 marked 19 years of our bilingual voting resource, VOTE411.org ! During the fall elections, more than 2 million people used VOTE411 to register to vote, view candidate guides, get polling place info, and more. SOCIAL MEDIA:  We launched on Threads  and Bluesky ! 2026 Resolutions: Ways to Empower Voters and Defend Democracy Unite and Rise : Join our campaign to defend our democracy and protect the freedom to vote. Become a Poll Worker : Empower your community to make their voices heard! You’ll even get paid for your service. Contact Your Representatives : Reach out on the issues that matter most. Find your representatives’ contact information , or use our Action Alerts to email them about voting rights, the Equal Rights Amendment, interference in DC politics, and more! Join the League : Become a part of your state or local League to register voters, support civic education, take action on local issues, and more!

Each year, we receive a reminder that our League of Women Voters membership dues are due. Many of you pay diligently and faithfully, and it’s natural to wonder: Are we really making a difference? Is my contribution truly helping? I’d like to share some facts about the meaningful work the League is doing, thanks in part to your support. The 2024 Election Impact Report , recently shared with members, highlights the League’s accomplishments in protecting voter rights, defending democracy, and collaborating with partners across the country. In 2024 alone, the League generated: • 30 million voter contacts • 9.38 million voters’ rights protected through litigation • 9.19 million users receiving trusted election information through VOTE411.org • Nearly 70,000 voter-to-voter conversations encouraging civic participation I encourage you to read the full impact report - it’s inspiring. As many of you know, litigation is extremely costly, and this year the League has had to defend against numerous attacks on voting rights and democratic processes. These legal battles occur not only at the national level, but also across many states. Recently, for example, the League and its partners rallied for fair maps as the Supreme Court heard Louisiana v. Callais. This inspired me to explore the League of Women Voters’ legislation page, where I discovered a long list of both ongoing and completed cases. Here are just a few: • Challenge to Federal Executive Order the Required Proof of Citizenship to Vote (April 2025) • Defense Against DOJ Voter Data Demands • Class Action Lawsuit Against Data Collection (Sept. 2025) • Challenge to North Carolina Post-Election Rules These cases represent only a portion of the League’s work. Across the country, the League—often in partnership with other organizations is actively defending voting rights and strengthening our democracy. It has been a very busy year. You can explore these cases on the League of Women Voters Legal Center web page. I hope that, after reviewing this information, you feel confident knowing how your membership dollars are being used. Every penny you contribute helps protect and uphold the democratic values we all cherish. Maggie VanDame Transformation Chair LWV Rogue Valley

Oregon Civics Conference OSME Presentation Feedback Dec 5, 2025, in Salem Hosted by Civics Learning Project The 2025 Oregon Civics Conference was held on December 5. Mimi Alkire (Oregon Student Mock Election Chair) and Diana DeMaria (Youth Outreach Chair) were part of the full day’s tabling, sharing one-on-one with teachers about Oregon Student Mock Election (OSME). Mimi was also a co-presenter for a session about OSME with Urmila Baruah, Salem-Keizer School District Social Studies TOSA. Here is the feedback from social studies teachers from across the state who attended the session. Summary Teachers discovered extensive ready-made support for mock elections through the Oregon League of Women Voters, with many surprised to learn they don't have to create materials from scratch and can scale beyond individual classrooms to district- wide initiatives. The session provided concrete toolkits including ballots, candidate information sheets, and implementation guides that reduce teacher preparation burden while creating authentic voting experiences for students. Key Takeaways and Themes Authentic Civic Experience : Teachers valued the hands-on, realistic approach of setting up voting stations, using actual ballots, and assigning student roles as poll workers and observers—moving beyond theoretical discussion to experiential learning that mirrors real democratic processes and increases likelihood of future voter participation. Nonpartisan Framework Appreciated : The League of Women Voters reputation for nonpartisanship resonated with teachers seeking ways to engage students in elections education without appearing biased. Notable Quote “This session reinforced my belief that students need concrete, experiential opportunities to understand democratic processes. It also challenged me to think about how election education can be truly nonpartisan while still deeply engaging and empowering for students.”

Youth Rights Youth Council LWVOR encourages youth participation in government at every level. Read More

Youth Council < Back About the Issue LWVOR Youth Council is a youth-led nonpartisan network of young civic leaders focused on increasing political engagement among young Oregon voters. Youth Council offers: Membership at three levels! Includes LWV of the US, LWV of Oregon, and your local League Opportunities for participation as a national and state convention delegate or observer Participatory civic engagement and education Community service hours with Certificates of Recognition Find out more and join here !

Back to All Legislative Reports Social Policy Legislative Report - Week of 5/8 Social Policy Team Coordinator: Jean Pierce • After School and Summer Care: Katie Riley • Behavioral Health: Trish Garner • Criminal Justice/Juvenile Justice: Marge Easley / Sharron Noon • Education: Jean Pierce / Stephanie Engle • Equal Rights for All Ballot Measure: Jean Pierce Kyra Aguon • Gender-Related Concerns, Reproductive Health, Age Discrimination: Trish Garner • Gun Safety & Gun Issues, Rights for Incarcerated People: Marge Easley • Hate and Bias Crimes: Claudia Keith/ Becky Gladstone /rhyen enger • Health Care: Christa Danielsen • Housing: Debbie Aiona and Nancy Donovan Jump to a topic: Housing Immigration, Refugee & other Basic Rights Housing By Debbie Aiona and Nancy Donovan Despite the controversy over sensitive bills and the walkout by Senate Republicans since last May 3, legislators continue to hold committee meetings with the intention of meeting their constitutional obligation to adjourn after 160 days, which is Sunday, June 25 at midnight. This past week many important housing bills were passed by both the Senate and House. SB 702 Adopts training for real estate appraisers and assistants : This bill requires inclusion of information on state and federal fair housing laws and implicit and racial bias in training for real estate appraiser certification. The League submitted testimony in support. On May 8 the House, on third reading, passed this legislation. SB 611 B Modifies the maximum allowable residential rent increase for designated units: This bill will change from 7% plus the September annual 12-month average change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), to the lesser of either 10%, or 7% plus the CPI. This will limit rent increases on tenancies (other than week-to-week tenancies) to not more than once in any 12-month period. This also applies to the rent increase limit to units from which a tenant was evicted. A May 4 work session was held by Senate Rules with a do pass. SB 599 A Allows tenants to operate home-based childcare: requires a landlord to allow a renter to use a dwelling unit for a family childcare home if it is certified or registered with the Office of Child Care. The landlord can require a tenant to pay for improvements necessary for certification and carry some form of liability coverage. House Early Childhood and Human Services held a May 8 work session and made a do pass recommendation. HB 3462 Emergency housing for all: This bill will extend access to emergency housing for all, regardless of immigration status, when the federal government declares a state of emergency in Oregon. Housing access would comply with the federal Fair Housing Act. Senate Housing and Development held a May 8 work session and made a do pass recommendation. HB 3042 Protections for residents of housing with expiring affordability contracts: will prohibit landlords from terminating a tenancy in the three years after the housing has been withdrawn from an affordability contract. It also would limit rent increases to no more than annually, and those increases could be no greater than what is allowed by law. Senate Housing and Development held a May 8 work session and made a do pass recommendation. HB 3151 Manufactured housing dispute resolution and tenant legal aid: prohibits landlords from requiring tenants to pay fees for improvements, pay system development charges, or cover the cost of repairs or improvements that cannot be removed when the tenant moves away. Senate Housing and Development held a May 8 work session and made a do pass recommendation. HB 2680 A Screening fees changes for rental applications: requires a landlord to refund screening fees within 30 days if the landlord fills the unit before screening the applicant or if the application is withdrawn before the screening takes place. If the landlord fails to return the fee, damages the applicant may recover range from $150 to $250 under the new legislation. Senate Housing and Development held a May 8 work session with a do pass recommendation. Immigration, Refugee & other Basic Rights By Claudia Keith Bills we are supporting or following: HB 2957 A in JW&Ms, -4 Staff Measure Summary . Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Fiscal. League Testimony . HB 3176 A : ‘Welcome and Reception’ program for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, In JW&Ms with 9/1 vote. Staff Measure Summary . Public Hearing was March 8 . Fiscal . Bills moved from Policy Committee to JW&Ms: SB 627 : Funding for universal (legal) fees for non-documented individuals ($15M) Sen Lieber. In JW&Ms with a partisan vote. The League has supported this policy/funding category in the past. Fiscal Analysis . Bills of Interest or possible League support: SB 849 A Public Hearing 2/28 with -1 amendment . Preliminary SMS -1 :. Now in JW&Ms. Fiscal $20M grant fund. Requires professional licensing boards to provide culturally responsive training to specified staff members, publish guidance on pathways to professional authorization for internationally educated individuals and waive requirement for English proficiency examination for specified internationally educated individuals. Basic Needs SB 610 A : Now in JW&Ms. Establishes Food for All Oregonians Program within Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Fiscal , Staff Measure Summary . HB 2990 A : Now in JW&Ms. Resilience Hubs. Directs Oregon Health Authority to develop and implement grant programs to support resilience hubs and networks in Oregon. Fiscal Statement Other Bills SB 216 A 5/8 governor signed . Related to data collected by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), request of Governor Kate Brown. OHA set a goal of eliminating health disparities by 2030 including those based on race, ethnicity, language, or disability (REALD) and sexual orientation or gender identity (SOGI). HB 2905 : 5/9. work session, vote 5,0,0,2. Expands the list of individuals whose histories, contributions and perspectives are required to be included in social studies academic content standards and in related textbooks and instructional materials. In Senate Committee Awaiting transfer to the President’s Desk. SB 421 A Work session 3/30 moved to JW&Ms with 6/1 vote, establishes a youth advisory council. Prescribes youth standards advisory council membership and duties. ODE to establish a work group to establish member selection process. Staff Measure Summary , Fiscal SB 613 : Creates Commission for Indigenous Communities. In Senate Rules. SB 612 A Establishes Indigenous Language Justice $ 2.5M Fund . Requires nonprofit organization in this state to serve as fiscal agent to receive disbursement of moneys for purposes related to supporting Indigenous languages interpretation in this state. In JW&M. SB 911 Creates Commission for Original Peoples from South America, Central America and Mexico. Still In Senate Rules, WS was 3/28. fiscal Other Topics Oregon announces it will stockpile abortion drug – 4/20/23 - Oregon Capital Chronicle. The Washington legislature passed a bill related to this topic Governor Inslee administration submitted the request and drugs were purchased in March. Lawmakers briefed on WA plan to distribute abortion pill | The Seattle Times. Washington state purchases three-year suppl y of abortion pill | 4/4/23 - Reuters. LWVOR corresponded with Oregon Planned Parenthood on Apr 11 concerning this topic. LWVWA supported SB5768 . The Washington bill was posted 4/5 and signed by the governor 4/27.